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It’s fun to remember back to last offseason around this time when the St. Louis Cardinals picked up Ryan Theriot to be their starting shortstop. We were all to familiar with Theriot’s limitations, so the prospect of him manning the most important position on the diamond for the Cards was a chuckle-inducing happy fest.

And then the Cardinals won the World Series. Motherf….

At least part of that was due to picking up Rafael Furcal midseason to take over at short, though. So, I guess it’s still OK to laugh at Theriot as a Cardinal.

That video was great! Brett we thank you again for all your work. I think I have watched it over 20 times and I’m still laughing. I liked Theriot, don’t get me wrong, but thats the reason he is no longer here.

BetterNews

Theriot was the equivalent of the Benny Hill Show, no doubt!

http://www.bleachernation.com Brett

Thanks, BN.

BetterNews

Hey Brett, I was wondering if Theo is leaning toward defense and pitching when things really start kicking in involving players. I have read and heard that they are not really “offensive” minded going into next spring. What say you?

http://www.bleachernation.com Brett

That’s what they’ve said, consistently. I believe them, but, what they’ll really be looking for are complete players.

BetterNews

So one would have to say Pena will be our first baseman. I have no problem with that, the only thing I don’t like about Pena is batting average. But for the money I think he is one of the best out there, defensive wise, long ball wise, and just pleasant personality.

CubFan Paul

No@Pena ..”complete” includes a batting average higher than .225 and a RISP higher than .180, Pena is a Platoon against Righties only

Had Quade figured that out by May/June and platooned pena with Baker, both players would of excelled ‘offensively’

BetterNews

Paul–I am interested to hear your suggestions at first. Please proceed with caution!(LOL) Baker at first,are you kidding me. I don’t think Baker will be with the team next April.

Also, Pena has an OBP of about .352 for his career, and .486 slugging %.

.299/.415/.566/.981, 38HR, 120rbi 100plus walks, i’ve been saying for a while now that he’ll be a Cub, he loses another suitor everyday. the Yanks, Sawx, Mets, Dodgers, Angels (<–all Big Money Markets), Rangers, Cardinals, Marlins have All said 'No' or 'No Thanx' to Fielder. The Nationals are a joke & will be used for leverage only but it won't be enough. Fielder will sign for slightly higher than market value (1B = $22million/yr) ..6yrs/$138million and two CLUB Options of at least $20million for an affordable 8yr $178million is my prediction. Lock It

BetterNews

Nope—I say Theo does not. I think he targets pitching as so many others think.

Pitchers can be signed also, the Cubs aren’t broke and have More than enough to sign Fielder, rebuild the pitching staff, and add other pieces (RF, 2B & LF)

hansman1982

Paul is 100% correct

Pena was really good against righties last year (.255/.388/.504 in 460 PA) and terrible against lefties (.133/.260/.333 in 146 PA)

Baker was really good against lefties (.314/.349/.416 in 129 PA) and terrible against righties (.200/.229/.263 in 83 PA)

Had Quade pulled his head out of his gut and looked at a stat sheet once or twice we probably could have picked up another game or two in the W column.

Now that is NOT to say that I am advocating for that platoon next year and would rather give LaHair a chance at 1b but my money is still on Fielder.

CubFan Paul

“Paul is 100% correct”

that is exactly what I like to read while drinking my coffee

BetterNews

Hansman—Can’t agree! First of all the “platooning” thing has been a major problem with the Cubs for the last 3 seasons, maybe even 4. I don’t think Baker will be here next year, and LaHair is just an option. LaHair is not a proven commodity.

hansman1982

I dont think a Pena/Baker platoon next year will happen, nor do I think it should be a top option – but had it been put in place last year it would have accounted for an extra win or two.

hogie

The number with RISP is the worrysome number there. His other skills, both offensively and defensively make the low average less of an issue in my opinion.

hansman1982

really, you could do A LOT worse than Pena. He is entirely capable of putting up aging Ryan Howard numbers but for $15 million less, plays good defense and his OBP is .100 points above his BA which is never a bad thing. If he could have a career year again you could realistically see .280/.400/.550 – now the odds of that happening are about the same as Theriot not being a schmuck but its there.

CubFan Paul

.280/.400/.550 ..Platooning and batting against Righties Only, sure

BetterNews

Nah! I wouldn’t give Fielder that kind of money if it was just my pocket change, sorry.

CubFan Paul

well, you asked, I answered and the payroll isn’t paid by you LOL!

hansman1982

He did it in 2007 playing 148 games. At this point he is my plan C with Fielder on a reasonable contract and LaHair ahead of him.

BetterNews

Brett—When did this “platooning” thing really start with the Cubs? I am thinking back to the many years gone by, and have no recollection of the Cubs ever having practiced this until the last 4 or 5 years. Maybe I am showing my age and can’t remember, but do you have any stats, comments on the “platooning” issue with the Cubs vs other teams?

http://www.bleachernation.com Brett

The first well-discussed, planned platoon I remember in the Internet era was the Todd Hollandsworth/Jason Dubois debacle back in 2005.

BetterNews

Yes, I do remember that to an extent(debacle indeed). But my question was meant as how do the Cubs compare with other teams when it comes to “platooning”. Are we doing it more than others? And how does it compare with teams that have won the WS. I know I am putting you on the spot, but I was just wondering if there are figures out there on this issue.

http://cubbiescrib.com Luke

Platooning, when done correctly, works. Baseball history is emphatically clear on that.

The problem is most managers don’t do it correctly. They tend to ride the hot hitter while ignoring the matchups, give up one half of the platoon when he goes into a slump, use playing time as a punish/reward thing, decide that the platoon means they don’t have anyone in the position and throw a bunch of other random people into that slot, etc. In those situations, platoons fail, and in nearly every failed platoon you see in recent memory the problem was either (1) the platoon was not handled properly or (2) the team was using a platoon to hire a player who had no business being in the majors in the first place.

Pena / Baker does not fit the second scenario (and I don’t think LaHair/Baker does either). So if Sveum handles it correctly, Pena / Baker should combine to create a fairly productive first baseman.

I still think we should have seen Soriano / Colvin in left most of last season, rather than Soriano every day.

Done right, platoons can work. If Sveum will do them right, the Cubs could really benefit from using them.

BetterNews

Luke—-I disagree, as I think thats why it does not work. A manager is going to go by his gut feeling making “platooning” a ridiculous way to approach a positional player. To me thats like saying he has a “crysal ball”. I say play your “regulars” unless they are injured! You can’t have cohesion unless your regulars play everyday.

BetterNews

Clark—If you did not find that funny you need to get off acid, I meant Addison, Did I say that(LOL)

BetterNews

Its official, Cubs compensation for Theo is delayed till Dec 8, I believe.

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